It is a big loss for German football. It’s just a few more days to the World Cup in South Africa, but Germany’s captain, Michael Ballack (top photo), has to abandon his participation due to an injury.
The cancellation was preceded by a foul by German-born Ghanaian international Kevin-Prince Boateng in England’s FA-Cup-Final. Boateng’s attack on Ballack’s ankle has caused outrage in the German public. Many people think it’s intentional. This is buttressed by Boateng’s past.
The former German U21-international has the reputation of being a brutal player since his time in the German Bundesliga with Hertha BSC Berlin and Borussia Dortmund. Another pointer to start a conspiracy theory is that Ghana is one of Germany’s opponents in the preliminary round of the World Cup in South Africa.
Kevin-Prince Boateng
Both Boateng and the Ghanaian Football Association have apologised for the attack. Despite that, Boateng’s appearance, wearing a Ghanaian jersey, against Germany in July will be crtitically viewed here. However, whatever way you may look at it, Ballack’s injury increases the opportunity for Ghana to launch a big surprise.
Ballack’s position next to Bayern Munich’s Bastian Schweinsteiger is therefore currently vacant. Possible substitutes are Stuttgart’s Sami Khedira and Christian Traesch. A twist of irony: Kevin-Prince Boateng’s half-brother, Jerome, is on the German squad.
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